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What Is The Punishment for a Second DWI?

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What Is The Punishment for a Second DWI?

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You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

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When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

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If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

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If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

Read More

Personal Injury Attorneys

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Read More

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Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

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When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

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Car & Motor Vehicle Accidents

If you were injured in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensatory damages from the party who...

Read More

Personal Injury Attorneys

You may be entitled to compensation for injuries caused by another party’s negligence or wrongdoing....

Read More

Immigration

Perhaps you are seeking a work visa or investor visa. Perhaps you want to bring your fiancée, spouse...

Read More

Criminal Defense

When facing serious criminal charges, you need to understand your legal rights and all the potential...

Read More

Social Security Disability

If you have an impairment that prevents you from working, you may be eligible for benefits under Social...

Read More
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In Texas, the offense of driving while intoxicated (DWI) is covered under Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code, which criminalizes driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Sec. 49.04(a) of the Penal Code reads: “A person commits an offense if the person is intoxicated while operating a motor vehicle in a public place.” But, what does intoxicated mean? It’s defined as not having the normal use of one’s mental
or physical faculties due to consumption of drugs or alcohol, or another substance.

A lot of people think they have to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or above to be arrested and convicted of DWI, but that’s not the case. A driver can be charged with DWI regardless of their BAC as long as the state can prove that he or she was impaired by alcohol or drugs, or a combination of the two.

Second DWI Penalties

Like other states, a Texas DWI is a “priorable offense,” which means the penalties for the DWI increase with each subsequent offense. So, for the purposes of this post, we are explaining the penalties for a second DWI in Texas.

Second DWI Penalties:

  • A maximum fine of $4,000
  • Up to one year in jail
  • Up to two-year driver license suspension
  • Annual fee from $1,000 to 2,000 to keep driver license

Note: A second DWI offense is usually prosecuted as a misdemeanor. However, it is elevated to a felony when the intoxicated driver caused serious bodily injuries or death to another person. In these cases, the driver would be charged with intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter respectively.

Are you or someone you love facing DWI charges in Plano, Dallas, or Fort Worth? If so, contact The Zen Law Firm to set up a consultation with a skilled DWI defense attorney who’s on your side!

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